Linear Algebra : Operations and Properties

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Linear Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : The Transpose

 is a nonsingular square matrix. 

True, false, or undetermined:  is a nonsingular square matrix.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Undetermined

Correct answer:

Undetermined

Explanation:

A square matrix is nonsingular - that is, it has an inverse - if and only if its determinant is 0.

Let   a column matrix. Then the transpose is equal to the row matrix 

.

The product of a row matrix and a column matrix, each with the same number of elements, is a one-by-one matrix whose only element is the sum of the squares of the elements, so

The determinant of a one-by-one matrix is its only entry, so  is a square matrix with a nonzero determinant. This proves that  can be nonsingular for some non-square .

Now, let , the two-by-two (or any other) identity matrix.  is a nonsingular square matrix, and , so

.

This proves that  can be nonsingular for some square .

Consequently, if , it cannot be determined whether or not  is a nonsingular square matrix.

Example Question #21 : The Transpose

 is an upper triangular matrix.

True or false:  cannot be an upper triangular matrix.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

The identity matrix of any dimension serves as a counterexample that proves the statement false. Examine the three-by-three identity

 is an upper triangular matrix - all of its elements above its main diagonal are zeroes. The transpose of  - the matrix formed by interchanging rows with columns - is  itself. Therefore,  is an upper triangular matrix whose transpose is also upper triangular.

Example Question #21 : The Transpose

 and  are both lower triangular square matrices. Which of the following must follow from this?

Possible Answers:

 is a singular matrix, but not necessarily a zero matrix.

 is an identity matrix

 is a zero matrix

 is a nonsingular matrix, but not necessarily the identity matrix.

 is a diagonal matrix, but not necessarily an identity matrix or a zero matrix. 

Correct answer:

 is a diagonal matrix, but not necessarily an identity matrix or a zero matrix. 

Explanation:

Let  be a three-by-three matrix; this reasoning extends to square matrices of all sizes.

 is a lower triangular matrix, so all of the entries above its main (upper left to lower right) diagonal are zeroes; that is, 

.

, the transpose of , is the matrix formed by switching rows with columns, so

.

However,  is lower triangular also; as a consequence, 

,

and

.

This demonstrates that  must be a diagonal matrix - one with only zeroes off its main diagonal. 

Example Question #51 : Operations And Properties

Let , and  be real numbers such that 

,  ,

and the determinant of  is 8.

True or false: The determinant of  is 8.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

 is the transpose of  - the matrix formed by interchanging the rows of  with its columns. The determinant of a matrix and that of its transpose are equal, so, since  has determinant 8, so does .

Example Question #32 : The Transpose

Find .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, the conjugate transpose of , is the result of transposing the matrix - interchanging rows with columns - and changing each entry to its complex conjugate. First, find transpose :

,

so

Change each entry to its complex conjugate:

.

Example Question #33 : The Transpose

Find .

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, the transpose, is the result of switching the rows of  with the columns. 

,

so

.

Example Question #51 : Operations And Properties

 and  are skew-symmetric matrices.

Which of the following is true of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By definition, the transpose  of a skew-symmetric matrix  is equal to its additive inverse . It follows that

Example Question #35 : The Transpose

Find 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, the conjugate transpose of , is the result of transposing the matrix - interchanging rows with columns - and changing each entry to its complex conjugate. First, find transpose :

,

so

Change each entry to its complex conjugate:

Example Question #36 : The Transpose

Which of the following is equal to  ?

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses gives the correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, the conjugate transpose of , is the result of transposing the matrix - interchanging rows with columns - and changing each entry to its complex conjugate. First, find transpose :

Each entry of  is equal to the complex conjugate of the corresponding entry of . However, each entry in  is real, so each entry is equal to its own complex conjugate, and 

Example Question #37 : The Transpose

Find .

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, the transpose, is the result of switching the rows of  with the columns. 

,

so

.

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